_Timothy Webster in Washington.--The Return to Philadelphia.--I go to
the Capital.--An Important Letter._
After leaving the White House, Timothy Webster went immediately in quest
of a conveyance that would enable him to reach Baltimore without
unnecessary delay. He expected to encounter greater difficulties in
obtaining what he desired here in Washington than he had met with in
Baltimore, for the reason that in the capital he was a comparative
stranger, while in the latter city he had numerous friends, who believed
him to be in sympathy with the Confederacy, and whose assistance he
could rely upon on that account. His only hope, therefore, lay in his
being able to find some friendly Baltimorean, upon whose influence he
could depend to procure him a mode of conveyance for his return. Having
arrived late on the preceding evening and being terribly fatigued by the
journey he had made, Webster had retired almost immediately after he
reached his hotel, and consequently he was surprised at the busy scenes
which greeted him now. The capital was swarming with soldiers and
civilians. Regiments continually arriving and were being assigned to
quarters and positions around the city, and the streets were filled with
eager and excited multitudes. The position which Maryland had assumed
was vehemently discussed everywhere, and the riotous conduct of the
Baltimoreans was loudly denounced by Northern men, and secretly
applauded by those whose sympathies were with the cause of the South.
The prompt action of General Butler, with his regiment of Massachusetts
soldiers, who followed quickly after the sixth, in going by boat
directly to Annapolis, in order to reach Washington without hindrance or
delay, and his patriotic and determined response to those in authority,
who sought to induce him to change his plans for reaching the capital,
were everywhere warmly commended. There could be no doubt that the North
was thoroughly aroused, and were dreadfully in earnest in their
determination to suppress a rebellion which they believed to be
causeless, unlawful and threatening the future of a great country.
As Webster walked along Pennsylvania Avenue, carefully scanning the
faces of every one he met in the hope of discovering some one whom he
knew and who might be of service to him, he recognized the driver who
had brought him from Baltimore on the day before, and who started in
astonishment at finding the man whom he had last seen a prisoner in the
hands of United States troops now walking the streets free and
unattended. This man was accompanied by three others, with two of whom
Webster was slightly acquainted, and he at once advanced toward them and
greeted them cordially.
"Why, Webster, is that you?" inquired the foremost of the party, a
well-known "sympathizer" of the name of John Maull. "We heard you had
been taken prisoner--how did you get out so soon?"
"That is easily accounted for," said Webster, with a laugh; "I was
simply arrested on suspicion, and when they could find nothing about me
that was at all suspicious, they were compelled to let me go."
"This country is coming upon strange times," remarked a sallow-faced
Baltimorean who boasted of having been one of the most prominent of the
rioters a few days before, "when a man can be arrested in this way and
have no means of redress."
"That is very true," replied Webster, "but we will have a decided change
before long, or I am very much mistaken. 'Uncle Jeff' means business,
and there will be long faces in Washington before many days."
"Give me your hand, old boy," exclaimed Maull heartily, "you are of the
right stripe; but don't talk so loud; let us go around the corner to a
quiet little place where we can talk without danger."
The party repaired to a drinking saloon, in a retired neighborhood, and
on entering it they were greeted warmly by several parties who were
standing before the bar. Webster was immediately introduced to these
gentlemen, and it was not long before he had firmly established himself
in their good opinions as a devoted friend of the South.
The conversation soon became general, and the most extravagant ideas
were expressed with regard to the wonderful achievements that were
expected of the Southern soldiers, and no doubt was entertained that the
Yankees, as they called the Northern men, would be quickly vanquished by
the chivalrous armies of the "Sunny South."
To all of these suggestions Webster yielded a ready assent, and not one
among the number was more pronounced in his belief in the needs of the
Southern cause than was my trusty operative, who, in the cane he
flourished so conspicuously, carried important dispatches from the
President of the United States to a General in command of Northern
soldiers.
All the time, however, he was growing very restive under the enforced
delay in his journey, and seeking a favorable opportunity during a lull
in the conversation, he turned to the driver of the wagon and inquired
of him when he was going to return to Baltimore.
"Not for a day or two, at least," replied the man.
"That is very bad," said Webster. "I must get there this evening; it is
of the utmost importance that I should do so."
At this one of the party approached Webster and informed him that he
was going back that day and had engaged a conveyance for that purpose,
and as there was room enough for two, he would be most happy to have his
company. Webster at once accepted the invitation, and having thus
relieved his anxiety upon the point of reaching Baltimore, he joined
heartily in the conversation that was going on around him. No one, to
have heard him, would doubt for a moment his loyalty to the South, or
his firm belief in the eventual triumph of her armies.
After remaining in the saloon for some time, Webster noticed that the
men were becoming intoxicated, and fearing that they would become noisy
and probably get into trouble, he suggested to the gentleman with whom
he was to drive to Baltimore the propriety of leaving the rest to their
enjoyment while they arranged matters for their departure. His advice
was at once accepted, and the two men bade their associates farewell and
repaired to the hotel, where they had their dinner, and about two
o'clock they were upon their journey. Webster's fears were proven to be
well-founded, for as they were passing the locality where they had spent
the morning, they saw their former companions between a file of
soldiers, and there was little doubt that they had allowed their
libations to overcome their judgments, and that they would be allowed to
recover their reason in a guard-house.
The journey was made without event, the carriage and driver being
apparently very well known along the route, and Webster arrived in
Baltimore late that evening. He was desirous of pushing on without
delay, as it was important that the dispatches which he carried should
be forwarded at once, and he therefore went immediately to the hotel he
had occupied when he first arrived in the city. Requesting the landlord
to use his best efforts to procure him a conveyance to Havre de Grace,
he sat down to his supper, and did ample justice to a plenteous repast.
When he had finished the landlord entered the room and informed him that
he had succeeded in providing a team for his service, but that grave
doubts were entertained whether he would succeed in reaching his
destination. Expressing his willingness to assume any responsibility of
that kind, Webster bade his entertainer good-bye, and entering the
wagon, he started upon his midnight journey to Havre de Grace.
Again fortune favored him, and although repeatedly halted, he was able
to give such a straightforward account of himself that they were allowed
to proceed, and he arrived in Havre de Grace in time for breakfast.
Crossing the river, he went directly to the headquarters of Colonel
Dare, who was in charge of the Union troops at Perrysville, and
requested that officer to forward the telegram to General McClellan at
once. This the Colonel promised to do, and in a few minutes the
important message was flying over the wires to its destination at
Columbus, Ohio, and the President's request for my appearance at
Washington followed soon after, and was received by me in due time.
Recognizing the importance of the call, I lost no time in answering the
dispatch of Mr. Lincoln, and started at once on my journey to
Washington, accompanied only by a trusty member of my force. Before
leaving I left orders that should I fail to meet with Webster upon the
way he should be directed to await my return in the city of Pittsburg.
On my arrival at Perrysville I found that a mode of communication had
been hurriedly established with Washington, by means of a boat which
sailed down the Chesapeake Bay and landed their passengers at Annapolis,
from which point the railroad travel to Washington was uninterrupted.
Arriving at the capital I found a condition of affairs at once peculiar
and embarrassing, and the city contained a strange admixture of
humanity, both patriotic and dangerous. Here were gathered the rulers of
the nation and those who were seeking its destruction. The streets were
filled with soldiers, armed and eager for the fray; officers and
orderlies were seen galloping from place to place; the tramp of armed
men was heard on every side, and strains of martial music filled the
air. Here, too, lurked the secret enemy, who was conveying beyond the
lines the coveted information of every movement made or contemplated.
Men who formerly occupied places of dignity, power and trust were now
regarded as objects of suspicion, whose loyalty was impeached and whose
actions it was necessary to watch. Aristocratic ladies, who had
previously opened the doors of their luxurious residences to those high
in office and who had hospitably entertained the dignitaries of the
land, were now believed to be in sympathy with the attempt to overthrow
the country, and engaged in clandestine correspondence with Southern
leaders. The criminal classes poured in from all quarters, and almost
every avenue of society was penetrated by these lawless and unscrupulous
hordes. An adequate idea can be formed of the transformation which had
been effected within a few short weeks in this city of national
government.
On the day following my arrival I wended my way to the White House and
sought an interview with the President. Around the executive mansion
everything was in a state of activity and bustle. Messengers were
running frantically hither and thither; officers in uniform were
gathered in clusters, engaged in animated discussions of contemplated
military operations; department clerks were bustling about, and added to
these was a crowd of visitors, all anxious, like myself, to obtain an
interview with the Chief Executive.
I was not required to wait an unusual length of time, and I was soon
ushered into the presence of Mr. Lincoln, who greeted me cordially and
introduced me to the several members of the Cabinet who were engaged
with him. I was at once informed that the object in sending for me was
that the authorities had for some time entertained the idea of
organizing a secret-service department of the government, with the view
of ascertaining the social, political and patriotic status of the
numerous suspected persons in and around the city. As yet, no definite
plans had been adopted, and I was requested to detail my views upon the
subject, in order that the matter might be intelligently considered, and
such action taken as would lead to definite and satisfactory results. I
accordingly stated to them the ideas which I entertained upon the
subject, as fully and concisely as I was able to do at the time, and,
after I had concluded, I took my departure, with the understanding that
I would receive further communications from them in a few days.
It was very evident to me, however, that in the confusion and excitement
which were necessarily incident to the novel and perplexing condition of
affairs then existing, that anything approaching to a systematized
organization or operation would be for a time impossible. The necessity
for war had come so suddenly upon a peaceful community that there had
been as yet but little time for thorough preparation or system. The
raising of a large army, with all the various contingencies of
uniforming, arming and drilling; the furnishing of supplies, and the
assigning of quarters, were occupying the attention of the rulers of the
government, and I felt confident that I would be required to wait a
longer time than I could then conveniently spare from my business, ere I
would be favored with any definite instructions from those in authority.
This opinion was fully confirmed, after several unsuccessful attempts to
obtain satisfying particulars from the heads of several of the
departments, and leaving my address with the secretary of the President,
I returned to Philadelphia.
I had directed, prior to leaving Chicago, that all important
communications addressed to me should be forwarded to that city, and on
my arrival there I found a number of letters which required immediate
attention.
Among the number was the following, which had been somewhat delayed in
its transmission.
"COLUMBUS, OHIO,
April 24, 1861.
"ALLAN PINKERTON, Esq.,
"Dear Sir:--
"I wish to see you with the least possible delay, to make
arrangements with you of an important nature. I will be
either here or in Cincinnati for the next few days--here
to-morrow--Cincinnati next day. In this city you will find
me at the Capitol, at Cincinnati at my residence.
"If you telegraph me, better use your first name alone. Let
no one know that you come to see me, and keep as quiet as
possible.
"Very truly yours,
"GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
"Maj. Gen'l Comd'g Ohio Vols.
This letter at once decided me. Anxious as I was to serve the country in
this, the hour of her need, I sought the first opportunity for active
duty that presented itself, and I left Philadelphia at once, in order to
comply with the instructions contained in this message of Gen.
McClellan.
[Illustration: STORMING A FORT.]